Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has announced that members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on the government’s proposed $1.5 billion budget after the Independence Day celebrations.
The consultations are expected to begin on Friday, 5 June, in Upolu, followed by meetings in Savai‘i on 8 and 9 June. The Prime Minister did not announce the venues.
Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio‘o, who presented the Budget Address in parliament on Tuesday, said the budget was also an invitation to Samoans overseas to remain connected to Samoa's development. “For Samoa’s diaspora communities, this budget is an invitation to remain connected, to invest in shared progress,” she said.
Mulipola became emotional during parts of her presentation as she outlined the government’s financial plan for the 2026-2027 financial year. The theme of this year’s budget is “AIGA - Accelerating Inclusive Growth and Access.”
The proposed $1.5 billion budget for 2026-2027 is a sharp increase from the $1.24 billion spending plan for 2025-2026, driven by new spending on fuel security, social protection, health and district development. Total expenditure is listed at $1,500,580,288, compared with $1,241,535,754 in the previous budget.
